Nissan Patrol vs Ford Territory

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Nissan Patrol in South Africa

Nissan Patrol

5.6 V8 Platinum 4x4 7AT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 1,949,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 298 kW 🔧 560 Nm ⛽ 9.0 km/l
VS
Ford Territory in South Africa

Ford Territory

1.8T Dark Edition DCT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 733,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 140 kW 🔧 320 Nm ⛽ 13.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Patrol
Fuel Economy Territory
🛡 Safety Patrol
📦 Practicality Patrol
🔑 Ownership Territory
Territory starts ZAR 1579900 cheaper Patrol from ZAR 1,579,900 · Territory from ZAR 520,000

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Patrol Territory
Engine Power 298 140
Torque 560 320
Engine Size 5552 1798
Claimed Mileage 9.0 13.5
Ground Clearance 272 190
Boot Space 490 448
Airbags 9 6
Kerb Weight 2660 1635
Seating Capacity Available Available
Warranty 3 4

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Patrol

69
/ 100
+1
pts
#2

Territory

68
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Both Patrol and Territory are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Patrol +7 pts
Efficiency Territory +8 pts
Safety Patrol +2 pts
Practicality Patrol +4 pts
Ownership Territory +4 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Patrol

Performance 20/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 17/20
Ownership 12/20

Territory

Performance 13/20
Efficiency 8/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 13/20
Ownership 16/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Patrol

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Territory

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Patrol

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Territory

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Patrol Territory
Ground Clearance 272 190
Wheelbase 2850 2716
Length 5165 4630
Width 1995 1935
Height 1940 1706
Kerb Weight 2660 1635
Gross Vehicle Weight 3560 2150
Seating Capacity 8 5
Boot Space 490 448
Towing Capacity 3500 1200
Front Track Width 1675 1550
Rear Track Width 1675 1540
Turning Radius 6.2 Available
Number of Doors 5 5
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 1500
Load Bed Length Available Available
Load Bed Width Available Available
Front Legroom Available Available
Rear Legroom Available Available
Front Headroom Available Available
Rear Headroom Available Available
Front Shoulder Room Available Available
Rear Shoulder Room Available Available
Max Payload Available Available
Boot Volume Available Available
Doors Available Available
Seats Available Available
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available
Spec Patrol Territory
Engine VK56VD 1.8L Turbocharged Petrol
Engine Type V8 Inline 4 Turbocharged
Displacement 5552 1798
Cylinders 8 4
Valves per Cylinder 32 4
Power 298 140
Power @ RPM 3000-3600 rpm 150
Torque 560 320
Torque @ RPM 1600-2600 rpm 400
Fuel System Direct + Port Injection Direct Injection
Turbocharger No Available
Top Speed 210 185
0-100 km/h 6.6 9.8
Compression Ratio 15.4:1 10.5:1
Engine Position Front Longitudinal Available
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Engine Code Standard Standard
Cylinder Bore 82.0 82.0
Piston Stroke 92.0 92.0
Fuel Grade Required Petrol Petrol
Engine Oil Capacity Available Available
Power 150 150
Variable Valve Timing Available Available
Maximum Engine RPM Available Available
Engine Type Config Available Available
0–100 km/h Available Available
Battery Capacity Available Available
Charging Port Available Available
AC Charging Time Available Available
Engine Displacement Available Available
EV Range Available Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Nissan Patrol wins with 69 pts vs 68 pts for Territory

In structured scoring, Patrol emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Territory may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Patrol edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Patrol 0 vs Territory 8. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Patrol 20, Territory 18. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Patrol 12, Territory 16. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Patrol 17, Territory 13. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Patrol 20, Territory 13. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Patrol edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Patrol scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Patrol and Territory in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Patrol scores 20 vs 13.

Efficiency: Patrol scores 0 vs 8.

Safety: Patrol scores 20 vs 18.

Practicality: Patrol scores 17 vs 13.

Ownership: Patrol scores 12 vs 16.

Final structured scoring gives Patrol the advantage in this comparison.